Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Airport Food

The pleasures of airline travel these days are nonexistant. Flying resembles a cattle drive more than a romantic getaway. Sadly, I can recall when traveling by air was actually a treat, when the airlines were grateful for your business and showed it by having the stewardesses (yes, they were always women in those days) cook your filet mignon to order - and that was in the euphemistically named "cabin class," too. You didn't have to triple the fare to get first class service.

Well, those days are long gone. No more macadamia nuts on flights to Hawaii, not even peanuts; the ubiquitous and inexpensive pretzel prevails. Now, you're sold for $5.00 a "snack box" filled with plastic knives, forks and cheese. Ugh.

So, imagine our delight, on our trip to the Motor City for Thanksgiving, to find that Perry's, a venerable San Francisco institution, has opened up a satellite location in the airport! My Beloved and I, being the kind of travelers who would rather arrive well in advance and read our books in the waiting area until the flight is called rather than make a mad dash through the airport and leap aboard the aircraft as the door is closing, were thrilled to be seated in a real restaurant and be served a delicious breakfast using real ingredients as we waited for our flight to be called. Now, if we could just move that kind of food and service onto the aircraft itself...

4 Comments:

I was just reminiscing over the last couple of weeks of the days when the ladies on Delta would hand you a lovely menu that had a watercolor on the front so that you would know what the meal choices were. *sigh*

When I flew first class back from Barbados, we received warm nuts when we boarded the plan. And an actual meal. I guess only the folks in first class get any kind of service these days.

Back in olden times the airlines sold themselves based on service as the prices were regulated by the Feds. Mr Reagan deregulates the airline industry and the prices dropped but so too did the niceties.